history

On 1 Februray
1968, the Golden Warriors were established as Attack Squadron 87, the first
to fly the A-7B Corsair II from NAS Cecil Field, Florida.

The first combat mission flown by the squadron was on 4 March 1969 from the
USS Ticonderoga (CVA 14), striking enemy targets in South Vietnam. In August
1970, VA-87 joined CVW 6 and made twelve deployments aboard USS Franklin D.
Roosevelt (CV 42), USS America (CV 66) and USS Independence (CV 62).

In the fall of 1973, the Golden Warriors embarked aboard USS Franklin D.
Roosevelt (CV-42) to protect U.S. interests during the Arab-Israeli War.
Transitioning to the improved A-7E Corsair II, the squadron returned in
October 1975 to the Middle East following the assassination of the American
Ambassador to Lebanon and assisted in the evacuation of U.S. citizens. During
the Iranian hostage crises and the Israeli-Syrian disputes of 1981, VA-87
deployed to the region for 195 days. One year later the Golden Warriors were
back in the fray, supporting U.S. peacekeeping operations in Lebanon for 172
days.

In October 1983, the Golden Warriors participated in Operation URGENT FURY,
protecting American citizens from political strife in Grenada. During the
same deployment, VA-87 participated in strikes against Syria in ongoing
United Nations efforts to stabilize the Middle East.

The Golden Warriors began a new era on 24 October 1986 when the venerable
Corsair was retired and the squadron was designated Strike Fighter Squadron
87 with the new McDonnell Douglas FA-18A Hornet, the first Naval aircraft
designed from conception as a strike fighter.

source:
VFA-87 website

- - -

In June 1968, the
squadron was reestablished as VA-87, an attack aircraft squadron and the
first fleet squadron to fly the LTV A-7 Corsair II, at NAS Cecil Field,
Florida. In March 1969, the squadron flew its first combat missions from the
USS Ticonderoga, striking targets in South Vietnam.In April 1969 following
the shoot down of a Navy EC-121 Constellation aircraft by the North Koreans,
Ticonderoga, with VA-87 embarked, was ordered to the Sea of Japan.

In 1973, the squadron protected U.S. interests during the Yom Kippur War.
Transitioning to the improved A-7E Corsair II, the squadron returned in
October 1976 to the Middle East following the assassination of the American
ambassador to Lebanon Francis E. Meloy Jr, assisting in the evacuation of
U.S. citizens, while embarked on America.

During the Iran hostage crisis and the Israeli-Syrian disputes of 1981, VA-87
deployed to the region for 195 days aboard Independence. One year later the
squadron returned, supporting U.S. peacekeeping operations in Lebanon.

In October 1983, the squadron participated in Operation Urgent Fury in
Grenada. During the same deployment, VA-87 participated in strikes against
Syria in response to hostile fire against U.S. reconnaissance aircraft from
Syrian positions in Lebanon.

On October 24, 1986, the squadron transitioned to the F/A-18A Hornet and was
redesignated Strike Fighter Squadron 87 (VFA-87).